Can you buy over the counter erection pills online?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a sensitive topic, and many men prefer to look for a private service for treatment and advice. If you’re looking for effective treatments without the added stress of a face-to-face consultation, you’ll be pleased to know that you can buy erectile dysfunction pills online.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps for purchasing over the counter erection pills online and your available options so that you can get your confidence back—without the embarrassment.

Can you purchase pills for erection over the counter?

In the UK, men over the age of 18 can legally purchase some—but not all—erectile dysfunction pills over the counter, meaning you don’t need to have a prescription from a doctor (1). This can be done in person at your local pharmacy or over the internet.

However, you shouldn’t buy these medications from any online store. Erectile dysfunction tablets can only legally be sold by registered pharmacies after a remote consultation. You may find unlicensed sellers offering OTC erectile dysfunction pills, but these sites should be avoided. Not only are they operating illegally, but they often offer counterfeit drugs that can be ineffective or dangerous.

You may also come across alternative products in supermarkets or health food shops. These often include vitamins or herbal remedies that lack scientific testing and approval of regulated erectile dysfunction treatments. Be cautious of anything marketed as “herbal Viagra” or “natural Viagra,” as these may not help with how to get a better erection or provide the results you’re looking for.

What ED treatment can you buy over the counter?

Some erectile dysfunction treatments are only available on prescription, whereas others are accessible over the counter. Here is a look at the most common ED tablets and whether or not you can purchase them online without talking to a doctor.

Can you buy Viagra over the counter?

Viagra is the most popular, widely-known erectile dysfunction medicine. The active drug in Viagra is a compound called sildenafil, a type of PDE-5 inhibitor which relaxes the smooth muscle in the penis and increases blood flow to help you get stronger erections (2).

Viagra cannot be bought without a prescription. However, Viagra Connect is an over-the-counter ED pill that can be bought online at registered internet pharmacies (3). Viagra Connect is the same medication as Viagra, using the same active ingredient and working in the same way. The two drugs even look the same: little blue pills.

The only difference is that Viagra Connect is only available in a 50mg dose, whereas prescription Viagra is available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg dosages.

Can you buy Cialis over the counter?

Cialis is another type of ED treatment that belongs to the same medication group as Viagra (PDE5 inhibitors), but it uses a different active ingredient called tadalafil. Like sildenafil, this compound increases blood flow to the penis temporarily to help you get and maintain an erection when sexually aroused (4).

Tadalafil tablets come in various doses (2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg) (5) and are only available with a prescription (6). However, Cialis Together is available over the counter from licensed online pharmacies (7). This ED medicine uses the same active ingredient to give you stronger erections but is only available in the 10mg dosage.

Other options for over-the-counter ED treatment online

Viagra Connect and Cialis Together are the two most popular over the counter erection pills—but they aren’t your only options:

• Eropid ED tablets: Eropid is another brand of over-the-counter ED pills that contain 50mg of sildenafil, making them medically equivalent to Viagra Connect. However, they are slightly cheaper to purchase than Viagra Connect.
• Eroxon gel: Eroxon gel is another new ED treatment available in the UK without a prescription (8). Rather than being a tablet, this medicine is a gel that’s rubbed on the head of the penis to stimulate the nerve endings to give an erection. It causes a man to erect fast, within 5 to 10 minutes of application, but is also shown to only work for around 6 in every 10 men to use it (9).

How to get an erection treatment online

Buying ED medication online is straightforward when you choose a reputable, registered pharmacy. Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps:

1. Visit a registered pharmacy’s website

Always start with an online pharmacy registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). This information is usually available on the pharmacy’s page, or you can use the pharmacy register on the GPhC website to check details and legitimacy (10).

2. Choose your erectile dysfunction medication

Decide between Viagra Connect, Cialis Together, Eropid, or Eroxon gel, based on your needs. Although Oxford Online Pharmacy offers all these erectile dysfunction treatments, not all online pharmacies do. Make sure your chosen pharmacy has the type of medication you’re looking for.

3. Complete a health questionnaire

Although you can buy erectile dysfunction medicine without a prescription, you still need a pharmacist to check the medication is safe and suitable for you. When buying ED treatment online, this information is collected using a quick and simple health questionnaire.

4. Place your order

Once approved, you can complete your purchase for ED treatment online. The pharmacy will prepare your medication and ship it directly to your front door—quickly, discreetly, and without you having to have an uncomfortable conversation with anyone you don’t want to.

Why choose Oxford Online Pharmacy for ED pills?

When it comes to getting erectile dysfunction medicine online, Oxford Online Pharmacy has got you covered. Here’s why so many men trust us:

• Quick, discreet, and hassle-free: Our health questionnaire is totally online—no awkward chats, just a few simple questions. Once approved, your treatment is on its way with next-day delivery in plain packaging for unbeatable privacy and convenience.
• A trusted pharmacy with history: We are a fully licensed and registered GPhC pharmacy that has been around for nearly 100 years. You can count on us for safe, reliable medications from a name that’s stood the test of time.
• An expert team who really cares: With a growing team of experienced pharmacists, independent doctors, and one of the UK’s leading ED experts, Professor Geoffrey Hackett, our team has the expertise to help you find the right solution.
• ED treatment options to fit your needs: Alongside offering over-the-counter options for erectile dysfunction, we also offer prescription-strength treatments like Viagra and Cialis through our discreet online doctor service.

When should you consider a prescription for ED pills?

While treatments like Viagra Connect and Cialis Together are often convenient and effective, they don’t always work for everyone. If you’re not getting the desired results and want to know how to keep an erection more reliably, it might be time to consider a prescription.

Prescription ED pills offer access to higher dosages, such as 100mg sildenafil or 20mg tadalafil, which may deliver longer-lasting effects or stronger erections. Choosing the prescription route also opens up more budget-friendly options. For example, generic sildenafil (the same active ingredient as Viagra Connect) is available at a lower cost, as is tadalafil, the generic version of Cialis Together.

Going down the prescription route doesn’t mean facing awkward conversations with your GP. You can access these prescription-only medications discreetly through our online doctor service. It’s as easy as ordering OTC—just a quick online consultation and treatment delivered to your front door.

Learn more about your options on our erectile dysfunction page.

Citations

1. Hackett G, Kirby M, Wylie K, Heald A, Ossei-Gerning N, Edwards D, et al. British Society for Sexual Medicine Guidelines on the Management of Erectile Dysfunction in Men—2017. The Journal of Sexual Medicine [Internet]. 2018 Apr;15(4):430–57.
2. Langtry HD, Markham A. Sildenafil: A Review Of Its Use In Erectile Dysfunction. Drugs [Internet]. 1999 Jun 1;57(6):967–89.
3. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. MHRA Reclassifies Viagra Connect Tablets To A Pharmacy Medicine [Internet]. GOV.UK. 2017.
4. Eardley I, Cartledge J. Tadalafil (Cialis) for men with erectile dysfunction. International Journal of Clinical Practice [Internet]. 2002 May 1;56(4):300–4.
5. Fahmy G, Hess J. Tadalafil [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
6. NHS. About Tadalafil [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2022. Available from:
7. MHRA Reclassifies Cialis Together Tablets To A Pharmacy Medicine [Internet]. GOV.UK.
8. Eroxon® [Internet]. Eroxon. 2024 [Cited 2024 Oct 9]. ‌
9. Ralph DJ, Eardley I, Taubel J, Terrill P, Holland T. Efficacy and Safety of MED2005, a Topical Glyceryl Trinitrate Formulation, in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Randomized Crossover Study. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2018 Feb;15(2):167–75.
10. Registers | General Pharmaceutical Council [Internet]. Pharmacyregulation.org. 2018.